UW students help draft state map of economic development initiatives in

With help from University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation released an economic development impact map Tuesday to demonstrate individual investments made by WEDC across the state.

WEDC replaced the Department of Commerce in 2011 to focus on more in-depth work with businesses and further economic growth statewide, according to the organization’s website.

“The impact map is a new tool for the public to see where WEDC’s economic and community development projects are, and to get detailed information on individual awards and the expected outcomes,” Reed Hall, WEDC secretary and CEO, said in a statement. “This project makes our investments on business development, job creation and community development transparent and accountable.”

The map allows users to examine individual award amounts and projected projects in each region or district, according to a statement.

UW-Madison students with the State Cartographer’s office and the UW-Madison Cartography Lab helped design the map, and UW-Whitewater students with the Pangea Studios helped with map coding and database development, the statement said.

The map is also published alongside a WEDC annual report on economic development with a corresponding searchable database of WEDC investment projects.